House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi came to the defense Wednesday of Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz against a report that Democratic lawmakers are considering asking her to step down before the party’s national convention.
Mrs. Pelosi dismissed the concerns that Ms. Wasserman Schultz had become a toxic presence and an obstacle to unifying the party because of the appearance that she has favored Hillary Clinton over Bernard Sanders in the presidential nomination race.
“Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz has the respect of her colleagues for her efforts and her leadership to unify the party and to win the election in November,” the California Democrat said at her weekly press conference at the Capitol, referring to a statement her office released earlier.
Asked whether she shared that respect for Ms. Wasserman Schultz, she replied, “That was my statement.”
Ms. Wasserman Schultz, who is a congresswoman from Florida, has been the target of complaints about the fairness of the nominating process since the presidential race began. Her actions that raised eyebrows among Sanders supporters included creating a debate schedule that appeared to favor Mrs. Clinton and establishing early on a joint fundraising committee with Mrs. Clinton, who is now closing in on the nomination.
The perception that Ms. Wasserman Schultz and other Democratic Party leaders rigged the system to benefit Mrs. Clinton has lead to fiery protests from Sanders supporters and created a huge rift in the party.
Mrs. Pelosi said discord in the party is common ahead of a national convention.
“I think that some of the unrest and unease that is out there among some people — and I don’t see it as Benire versus Hillary — I think it is just some unease that is out there,” she said.
However, she said the complaints about the nominating process indicated that the party should “revisit delegate selection rules.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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